Beauty and brains: the LG Optimus G reviewed

LG gets it right by packing power into a sleek-looking chassis.

Being an Android user is a tricky thing. We have a plethora of handset options and operating system versions available to us, which is both a strength and a weakness. As trade shows happen and announcements are made, it becomes annoyingly difficult to choose the best handset without the fear that it might be rendered obsolete by carrier negligence or a spontaneous new phone launch.

The LG Optimus G is representative of this problem. On the inside, it's everything we've dreamed of in an Android handset. It's supremely fast, responsive, easy to use, and beautiful to look at. At the same time, Google is preparing to launch the Nexus 4 phone, which is also made by LG... and contains the same innards as the Optimus G. Preliminary benchmarks have shown it delivering similar performance numbers to its counterpart. To add insult to injury, the Nexus comes with a stock version of Android 4.2 without carrier bloatware or manufacturer UI skins—a major selling point for Android purists and those who want to receive timely OS updates.

So, what's the point? Why even bother with the Optimus G at all if there's a better version of it on the horizon? This is still a crucial handset for LG, because while it does well with handsets in international markets, it's still working its way up the ladder against major players like Samsung and HTC in the US. Its induction into the Nexus program is sure to give it the exposure it needs, but it's handsets like the Optimus G that will attract Android newcomers and those who may not be interested in a bare-bones Nexus phone.

We should note that LG currently has three versions of the Optimus G out on the market: one for AT&T, one for Sprint, and a white version available only in Korea. The AT&T version—the one featured in this review—comes equipped with an 8MP camera, while Sprint offers the 13MP version.

Look, touch, feel

This phone is, simply put, gorgeous. It has a 4.7-inch True HD IPS Plus display covered by a sheet of Gorilla Glass 2. The screen is framed by a barely-there black bezel, with textured bottom and top panels and rounded corners sealing it all together. The whole package looks sleek, industrial, and business-like. If this is what it looks like living in a world with only Android-powered handsets, then I like it here.

The buttons on either side and the microSD expansion slot are unobtrusive, and there's a microUSB plug on the bottom for charging. The USB port is flanked by two Torx screws, which contribute to the industrial aesthetic. There are also two tiny holes on the top and the bottom of the phone that act as microphones, as well as an inconspicuous sliver on the back of the chassis for the speaker. In a nice design touch, the red notification light is integrated into the power button.

It looks like LG is taking its industrial design very seriously. This is an Android phone you want because it looks really good, unlike the boring black and silver-trimmed chassis that other Android phones are sporting.

LG also managed to get the size right. The Samsung Galaxy S III, for example, is a solid phone, but unless you've got large hands, it feels like it's always about to slip out of your grasp. While it's only about 5mm bigger and 2mm wider than the Optimus G, even that small extra bit can make it too hard to hold comfortably and too big to fit into some pockets. Quality phones like these shouldn't be rattling around in a bag with keys and other pointy objects, and cloaking them in unwieldy holsters or ugly covers isn't always a solution. The Optimus G fits in the hand or the pocket without any issues, and we like that.

Where it does fall short is its weight. The Optimus G is much denser than a lot of other phones, weighing in at about 145 grams, compared to the Galaxy S3's 133 grams and the iPhone 5's 122 grams. This is another area where seemingly small differences in a measurement can have a big subjective difference, because the phone definitely feels heavy.

Display and Camera

The display, though, is an area where the Optimus G excels. Its 1280x768 screen uses a Touch Hybrid Display, produced in part with LG Innotek, a sister company to LG that specializes in LEDs. The display is thinner than most other smartphone touchscreen panels because it's directly bonded to its glass front panel. It can also supposedly withstand more shock than a traditional panel with an air gap, though this is not something we tested. The IPS panel and laminated glass results in a bright display that's easy to use in sunlight and low-light, with colors that are rich and vibrant and appear the same no matter the angle. Reading text won't strain your eyes and the screen is large enough to have the phone playing a video on the counter while working or doing other tasks, even with the glare of a window behind you (though you'll have to turn the brightness all the way up). Its 320 PPI density is a smidge less than that of competing phones, like the iPhone 5's 326 PPI, but the Optimus G still offers immense clarity.

The Optimus G's reds are much redder than the Galaxy S III's blown-out red.

The Optimus G's cameras aren't the best on the market, but they get the job done. The AT&T model is equipped with two: a front-facing 1.3MP and a rear-facing 8MP. The front-facing camera is fine for video chat and taking silly pictures wearing funny hats, but the rear-facing camera has a few kinks to work out. First off, it doesn't do well in low-light situations, and secondly, setting the focal point was occasionally frustrating—it seemed to get fiddly at crucial moments. As exhibited in the picture below, the camera had some issues focusing from inside a car; it tended to lock onto the windshield, resulting in a blurry photo. There was also an issue where the camera would sometimes let light from nearby sources bleed into the picture, resulting in a few unevenly lit, unpleasant looking photos.

Enlarge/ This light emitted here is from a computer monitor about three inches away.

The Optimus G's camera application does come with a plethora of options, including HDR and several "scene" modes that set the camera to predetermined settings to help take better photos in particular situations. There are also options for individually tweaking the ISO and white balance, and those with big vistas to share can take a panorama photo, though the panorama feature only works with the phone in portrait orientation and the result isn't great. Compared to the recent iOS panorama features and stock Android 4.2's panorama feature, this was one has a bit of catching up to do.

Enlarge/ Panorama doesn't do a good job of stabilizing the image as the phone is moving.

LG also includes a feature called "Voice Shutter," which can have the camera snap a photo when it hears a certain voice command. Select one of the five commands the phone understands—including words like "cheese," "smile," and "kimchi"—and it will follow through once it hears you or your subject(s) speak it. LG also includes a handy feature for those with active kids or jumpy pets called "Time Catch." Once you press the shutter button, the camera app takes photos at several different intervals, allowing you to pick which part of the "moment" is most crucial for keeping or sharing.

Enlarge/ Time Catch requires you to select which photos to save to the Gallery before you move on.

I sure would like to see Ars Technica begin including a serious GPS analysis in phone reviews - something on the order of what's done with cameras. I care a lot more about the GPS functionality than I do the camera, yet I have no idea after reading this review whether the phone would be a good choice for me.

No mention of LTE in the article? I just read a review of the Nexus 4 that mentions it doesn't have LTE.

For all the shit Android users gave Apple for taking their time bringing LTE to market, it's pretty shocking these new phones are coming out without it.

Yes, the Optimus G has LTE. The Nexus 4 and the Optimus G are different phones. The advantage to Android is I can pick an LTE phone if I want one (like this one), or I can instead go for more openness with the Nexus 4. The fact I have a choice is one of the major advantages Android has over Apple (and one of the disadvantages, as well, looked at from a different point of view).

I still don't get why people are buying these giant phones. Do people talk/text on their phones so much these days that they don't ever need to put a phone in their pocket? Or are cargo pants an "in" thing again?

The Nexus won't be CDMA either... It is HSPA+ I believe. So it is "4G", just not the only 4G many of us (in the US) will have access to.

IIRC Apple caught a lot of shit for calling HSPA+ 4G. I think deservedly so, my own anecdotal experience is that LTE is much faster.

I'd think that LTE capability would have been an important point to highlight in this article with regards to the differences between the Optimus G and the Nexus 4. Depending on your needs that could be a compelling reason to get the Optimus G, since the cleaner software on the Nexus 4 is something that one could in theory fix on your own whereas LTE capability is not.

What's with the fascination of OEMs having one over-sized image showing the time and/or today's weather?

I know it can be replaced, but a simple strip with the next couple of days would be far more useful than the weather today (look out of the window) and/or a clock (look at the time which is permanently displayed in the top right hand corner).

Innovation in default widgets seems to be pretty dire. Do they just mindlessly copy each other?

I'm currently running Glass Widgets on my SIII, however the weather one is pretty flaky. I looked at Beautiful Widgets, but didn't fancy paying for something I didn't think was remotely beautiful.

Google was really transparent on the reason the Nexus 4 lacks LTE, mainly being free from carrier interference for updating the software and cost.

If they were being truly transparent, they would have said:

We don't have anywhere near the same level of pull with the carriers as Apple does. This is because Android is open and we (Google and the phone manufacturers) have let the carriers get used to putting their own crapware into our phones and holding up our software updates.

The advantage to Android is I can pick an LTE phone if I want one (like this one), or I can instead go for more openness with the Nexus 4. The fact I have a choice is one of the major advantages Android has over Apple (and one of the disadvantages, as well, looked at from a different point of view).

Ah yes, that's the way to spin it - it's not Google getting slapped around by the carriers who said "no LTE", it's a "choice".

Because let's be honest, who really wants a Nexus phone with LTE anyway? /s

The unremovable icons may be a worse user experience than having the app pre-installed because the user might try to use one and not know why it dumps them into the Play Store, but on the other hand, you can hardly call it bloatware if it's just the icons.

The advantage to Android is I can pick an LTE phone if I want one (like this one), or I can instead go for more openness with the Nexus 4. The fact I have a choice is one of the major advantages Android has over Apple (and one of the disadvantages, as well, looked at from a different point of view).

Ah yes, that's the way to spin it - it's not Google getting slapped around by the carriers who said "no LTE", it's a "choice".

Because let's be honest, who really wants a Nexus phone with LTE anyway? /s

Not everyone lives in a major population center.

With how often I'm in an area serviced with LTE (hardly every, at this point), I won't miss it.

I would also have liked to see some more detailed comparison of this phone and the Nexus 4. The icon in one of the screenshots suggests it has LTE (which the Nexus 4 doesn't), but how does the battery life compare and does the Optimus G have expandable storage? People keep saying "the innards are identical" but that doesn't seem quite accurate.

I still don't get why people are buying these giant phones. Do people talk/text on their phones so much these days that they don't ever need to put a phone in their pocket? Or are cargo pants an "in" thing again?

My Nexus 7 fits in any pants I've tried. So these phones should be no problem.

My sister didn't believe the Nexus 7 would fit in her tight pants when we discussed the subject, she was proven wrong. It top stuck up, but well, it fitted.

Does the Optimus G have fixed storage and no SD like the Nexus 4? And is the battery non-replaceable as well?

I thought these would be basic details that a review should cover.

The battery is replaceable in both the Nexus 4 and the Optimus G. They just require a screwdriver. It's not quite iPhone-like (with a sealed case and glued-in batteries) but requiring tools puts it outside the realm of "user serviceable"

The advantage to Android is I can pick an LTE phone if I want one (like this one), or I can instead go for more openness with the Nexus 4. The fact I have a choice is one of the major advantages Android has over Apple (and one of the disadvantages, as well, looked at from a different point of view).

Ah yes, that's the way to spin it - it's not Google getting slapped around by the carriers who said "no LTE", it's a "choice".

Because let's be honest, who really wants a Nexus phone with LTE anyway? /s

I didn't say the choice was completely on the side of Google. In fact, that wasn't at all what I was saying. What I was saying was that if one wanted an iOS device prior to Apple releasing the iPhone 5, you couldn't. Straight up impossible, didn't exist. If one wants an Android LTE device prior to Google releasing one... you have dozens. Literally dozens of options, on all the major carriers.

Obviously, you can't choose a Nexus 4 with LTE. But you can choose an Android with LTE if you want, but in return you get lock-in. That choice never existed with Apple.

Also, the carriers didn't say "no LTE", what happened was Google realized they couldn't make one phone that worked on several LTE networks. The technologies are incompatible, you would need to make 2 or more phones, or several radios in one phone. Neither one is desirable. Apple has 3 different versions of the iPhone 5 to deal with that issue, which means, of course, you are locked into the network when you buy the phone. That is exactly what Google was hoping to avoid. They could have made 3 different variations was well, but they explicitly didn't want to.

The advantage to Android is I can pick an LTE phone if I want one (like this one), or I can instead go for more openness with the Nexus 4. The fact I have a choice is one of the major advantages Android has over Apple (and one of the disadvantages, as well, looked at from a different point of view).

Ah yes, that's the way to spin it - it's not Google getting slapped around by the carriers who said "no LTE", it's a "choice".

Because let's be honest, who really wants a Nexus phone with LTE anyway? /s

As an iPhone fanboy having to live without it, I realized that without LTE, I did have one advantage. I'm not tempted to use all my data in a weekend orgy of sports and videos.

Wait, I have unlimited data with AT&T because I'm grandfathered in. So it's a catch 22. Buy something else and lose unlimited data and have to be careful about using too much speed, or using my iPhone 4s and not worrying about going over my limit, even if that means a slower connection.

That's what WIFI is for! LTE is a solution designed to drive people to pay more for data. And that's all it is. Kill unlimited plans, and then watch people run out of data with too much month left over.

I still don't get why people are buying these giant phones. Do people talk/text on their phones so much these days that they don't ever need to put a phone in their pocket? Or are cargo pants an "in" thing again?

The advantage to Android is I can pick an LTE phone if I want one (like this one), or I can instead go for more openness with the Nexus 4. The fact I have a choice is one of the major advantages Android has over Apple (and one of the disadvantages, as well, looked at from a different point of view).

Ah yes, that's the way to spin it - it's not Google getting slapped around by the carriers who said "no LTE", it's a "choice".

Because let's be honest, who really wants a Nexus phone with LTE anyway? /s

As an iPhone fanboy having to live without it, I realized that without LTE, I did have one advantage. I'm not tempted to use all my data in a weekend orgy of sports and videos.

Wait, I have unlimited data with AT&T because I'm grandfathered in. So it's a catch 22. Buy something else and lose unlimited data and have to be careful about using too much speed, or using my iPhone 4s and not worrying about going over my limit, even if that means a slower connection.

That's what WIFI is for! LTE is a solution designed to drive people to pay more for data. And that's all it is. Kill unlimited plans, and then watch people run out of data with too much month left over.

Hate to break it to you, but being grandfathered in to AT&T 'unlimited' data now just means you won't get charged when you go over 3GB, you get throttled instead. 'Unlimited' is whatever you can download at throttled speeds between 3GB and the end of the month, which won't be much.

I have a nexus phone and tablet. Why buy another device when it had carrier crap ware and slow upgrades? If I wanted battery draining weather widgets I would install them. Is it just that people haven't heard of them?

I have a nexus phone and tablet. Why buy another device when it had carrier crap ware and slow upgrades? If I wanted battery draining weather widgets I would install them. Is it just that people haven't heard of them?

I was waiting for the next Nexus in order to get one. Then, it came out without LTE. Haven't yet decided whether I want LTE or stock Android. It's not that people aren't aware - it's that people have different priorities. Maybe someday, we'll be able to order all the parts and build our own phones the way we want them. Until then, we have to deal with trade offs unless some manufacturer hits the magic feature combo we're hoping for.

I sure would like to see Ars Technica begin including a serious GPS analysis in phone reviews - something on the order of what's done with cameras. I care a lot more about the GPS functionality than I do the camera, yet I have no idea after reading this review whether the phone would be a good choice for me.

Agreed.

Coming from an Epic 4G whose GPS does not function without data connectivity, I tested the AT&T Optimus G in a mall store with GPS Test. While in Airplane Mode and toggling the GPS on, GPS Test showed something like 4 out of 21 satellites being used on a nearly instant lock.

The AT&T variant does indeed have LTE, and a SD card slot next to the SIM slot(?) under a cover on the volume button side.

The unremovable icons may be a worse user experience than having the app pre-installed because the user might try to use one and not know why it dumps them into the Play Store, but on the other hand, you can hardly call it bloatware if it's just the icons.

It's still bloating the apps screen. I don't want it there if I'm never going to use it. It takes up most of the first page of the apps screen.

Picked up the AT&T version reviewed here yesterday at a Fry's Electronics for only $100 with upgrade (pretty sure it was a pricing glitch.) I've since got it all set up and couldn't be happier with it.

I had planned on waiting for the Nexus, but no microsd and no LTE was a dealbreaker for me. I have a Nexus 7 with JB on it, and so far I haven't been annoyed with the ICS on the G at all. I remember my previous phone, a Motorola Atrix, being very annoying with the ui and bloatware, but I don't get that feeling at all with this one. If you're thinking about skipping it because it isn't stock Android, but you want the features the Nexus is missing, consider seeing one of these in person first. You might not find it so terrible.

The biggest downside I've noticed is probably the battery life. I've decided to keep it in eco mode unless I'm doing something that needs the horsepower. I don't understand why they wouldn't make it run only as fast as required and otherwise power down cores to save on battery (like most mobile CPUs) but ultimately it's a small issue. Most people don't need it at full power but 1% of the time anyway.

It just astonishes me what the A6 is able to do with 2 cores vs. the Snapdragon's 4.

Can't wait to see what the delta will be with the upcoming 4 core A6X variant.

It's baffling to me that an Ars ready would fall into the 'more cores is better' fallacy. Is this 2000 all over again with the MHz race?

The irony is that more cores was better than MHz.

I have a real hard time believing some of these scores both here and at Anandtech. The A6 is an ARMv7-based design that was customized by Apple but if there was this much more efficiency and headroom to pick up all along, why didn't they (or their competitors) do it earlier?

Florence Ion / Florence was a former Reviews Editor at Ars, with a focus on Android, gadgets, and essential gear. She received a degree in journalism from San Francisco State University and lives in the Bay Area.